Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist works in the Pathology and Lab Service at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week, with a schedule that varies. The position is responsible for leading and coordinating work in the assigned laboratory specialty, including distributing and balancing workload, coaching staff, and facilitating problem solving. The Lead CLS oversees operational matters such as work assignments, records and reports, testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and regulatory compliance, and may serve as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments.

The role includes orienting and evaluating staff competency, identifying training and continuing-education needs, coordinating daily laboratory-section activities, writing or modifying technical procedures, providing technical instruction, and ensuring policies and regulatory requirements are followed. The Lead CLS may also advise on responses to unacceptable results or specimens and coordinate or perform quality-control reviews and method-verification activities.

The position is at the GS-12 level. Applicants must meet the stated education and certification requirements and have one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11. A minimum of two years of Blood Bank experience is preferred. The position is not authorized for telework or virtual work, and relocation and permanent change-of-station incentives are not authorized. It is in the Excepted Service and is not in a bargaining unit.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• One of the listed certifications: MLS generalist certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; MT generalist certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or an applicable categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11 for the GS-12 grade determination.
• Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties and complex clinical laboratory problems.
• Skill in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing laboratory instrumentation.
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve complex situations.
• Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Ability to provide technical guidance to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding testing, specimen requirements, and results.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including drug screening if designated, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and credentialing if required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of Blood Bank experience.
• Experience with VISTA, CPRS, and VBECs.

Responsibilities

• Identify, distribute, and balance work; coach staff and facilitate problem solving.
• Prepare reports and maintain records of work status.
• Resolve simple, informal complaints.
• Report team performance, progress, training needs, behavioral problems, and personnel needs; provide information on promotions, reassignment, and recognition of outstanding performance.
• Manage all aspects of operations in the assigned specialty, including work assignments, workload, and completion of staff assignments.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports, and oversee testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance.
• Act as a liaison to the supervisor and other medical-center departments or divisions for the laboratory specialty.
• Orient assigned staff and evaluate their competency; identify continuing-education and training needs.
• Coordinate daily activities of laboratory sections.
• Write or modify technical procedures and provide technical instruction.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements are followed.
• Advise on appropriate actions when test results or specimens are unacceptable.
• Coordinate or perform quality-control reviews and method-verification activities.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation.
• Develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve complex problems.
• Manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section.
• Provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Provide technical guidance to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff on testing, specimen requirements, and results.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, subject to individual requirements and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior